Electrical memorandum

ABSTRACT

An electrical memorandum including data recording means comprising first and second sheets disposed one atop the other, pressure being applied to the first sheet to trace an image which appears on the recording means; means to separate the first and second sheets to erase the recorded image; luminous indicating means for indicating the presence of data recorded on the recording means; and power supply means for supplying power to the luminous indicating means, the power supply means automatically switching from AC to DC upon a failure of the AC supply.

llnite States Patent [191 Acuna [54] ELECTRICAL MEMORANDUM [76] Inventor: Cristoban Manuel Acuna, As-

tronomos No. 54, C01 Escandon, Mexico City, Mexico [22] Filed: July 9, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 161,116

Related US. Application Data [63] Cggginuation-impart of Ser. No. 737,419, June 17,

[52] US. Cl ..340/323, 340/337 [51] Int. Cl. ..G08b 5/36 [58] Field of Search ..340/323, 337

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,569,727 1/1926 Donato ..340/323 Miskelly .246/ l 91 Hammond .340/ 337 Primary Examiner-David L. Trafton Attorney-Stevens, Davis, Miller & Mosher [57 1 ABSTRACT An electrical memorandum including data recording means comprising first and second sheets disposed one atop the other, pressure being applied to the first sheet to trace an image which appears on the recording means; means to separate the first and second sheets to erase the recorded image; luminous indicating means for indicating the presence of data recorded on the recording means; and power supply means for supplying .power to the luminous indicating means, the power supply means automatically switching from AC to DC upon a failure of the AC supply.

9 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEB MAY 2 2 I973 SHEET 2 OF 6 PAIEM MAY 2 2 ma 735, 3. 8

SHEET 5 (IF 6 ELECTRICAL MEMORANDUM CROSS-REFERENCE-TO RELATED APPLIC ATION The present application is a continuation-in-part, of application Ser. No. 737,419 filed on June 17, 1968 for ELECTRICAL MEMORANDUM.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to reminders, and more particularly to an electrical memorandum, which has means to attract attention on pending subjects.

Until now the memorandums used for reminding purposes have lacked an effective means able to attract attention on pending subjects previously scheduled on them.

Particularly, said memorandums have lacked means to attract attention, like luminous and/or audible means which are a subject of this invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Now, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided an electrical memorandum which has indicating lights corresponding to entries previously scheduled over means able to be written and erased a multiplicity of times, which are located on a supporting chassis, and has keys to activate the lighting circuits as well as to erase the corresponding entries, wherein said keys slide over V profiles forming said cabinets. The memorandum in one embodiment of I this invention has an alarm clock mechanism with the same reminding purpose. The electrical memorandum of the preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a box or a supporting chassis having an upper panel over which a plurality of cabinets are located, said cabinets being formed by a plurality of V profiles with corresponding actuating keys which slide upon the V profiles, said keys actuating the corresponding indicating light upon sliding movement of them; also said keys are used to clear said cabinets of pending subjects.

Each of the cabinets, has a corresponding indicating light located on the panel which are lighted when an entry is registered in the cabinet and turned off when the subject matter of the entry is performed.

The electrical lighting circuit can be fed either by an external source such as a domestic a. c. outlet, or by a d. c. power source such as a battery enclosed in said supporting chassis.

Said circuit has rectifying means to convert said a. c. source into d. c. and also, has means which automatically conect the internal (1. c. source when the external a. c. source fails.

Said means to erase and inscribe in said cabinets are formed by a supporting sheet, a carboard waxed sheet, an opaque plastic and a transparent plastic.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The nature of the invention will be more easily understood when it is considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top view of the electrical memorandum of the preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the electrical memorandum of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the lines 3 3;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the lines 4 4;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic cross sectional view showing the slide contacts;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing several parts of the cabinets;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view showing the electrical wiring of an indicating light and its corresponding actuating key;

FIGS. 8 and 8a are cross-sectional and plan views, respectively, of another embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 9 is an electrical diagram of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a metalic, plastic or similar material box or rectangular supporting chassis 11 over which are located in its upper frontal panel 12 a plurality of confined spaces 14, over which an entry can be registered, said confinedspaces being formed by profile frames 15 shaped in V-form over which slides and actuating key 16, said key activating upon sliding movement a corresponding lighting circuit which lights a corresponding indicating lamp 13. On an embodiment of the invention there is an alarm clock mechanism 17, which indicates audibly the time to attend to a pending subject matter located on said supporting chassis l2, and means 18 to support a registering device like a pencil.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, the indicating lights 13 are attached to the supporting chassis 12 by holding devices 19. In this embodiment of the invention each indicating light has, at one end, electrical leads 20, to be connected in its corresponding circuit.

A battery housing is located below said groove 18 to hold said registering device. The dc. source, or battery 21, is located in this housing.

The actuating keys slide over the profiles shaped in V 15, as shown in FIGS. 4,5 and 7. Said keys depress, upon movement, the push-on-push off switches 22, by acting on a spring pusher 29 which acts on switches 22, closing the corresponding lighting circuits.

Switches 22, are fixed to supporting chassis 11 by a flange 30 and a threaded holding means 31.

The switch leads 23 are connected in series with the indicating light leads 20 across the wire 22.

FIG. 6 shows the means to write and erase a multiplicity of times on them, which comprise a supporting sheet 25, a waxed cardboard sheet 26, an opaque plastic sheet 27, and a translucent sheet 28 disposed one over the other. The sliding key 16, is engaged to its corresponding supporting V profiles, by means of a lower key projection 24l, which slides under said V profiles.

The memorandum of the present invention has means to register and erase pending subjects in a plurality of cabinets. These means are formed by supporting sheet 25, waxed cardboardsheet 26, opaque plastic sheet 27 and translucent sheet 28, all disposed one atop the other in that order. When a pressure is exerted by the user upon said means'to write some information to be recorded by using a marking or a registering means such as a pencil, the information appears by the effect of pressing theopaque plastic sheet 27 upon the waxed cardboard sheet 26 (see FIG. 6). For erasing the registered information, it is necessary to slightly lift the opaque plastic sheet 27 by separating it from waxed cardboard sheet 26. This separation is effected by sliding the key 16 along the cabinet 14. This is possible because the opaque plastic sheet 27 and translucent sheet 28 are cut in strips that pass through a hollow portion found in the lower key projection 24 (See FIG. 6).

When some registration is effected, the sliding keys 16 are at the right ends of the cabinets, as illustrated in FIG. 1.

Once the keys are at their right-most end positions of the cabinets, the memorandum is ready for information to be registered thereon. At this point when the user transmits some information by using the marking element which he presses against the assembly of sheets, he automatically actuates switch 22 by means of the spring pusher or lever 29 fixed to the lower surface of the supporting sheet 25, thus turning on corresponding light 13. When this light 13 is lit, it attracts the attention of the user in relation with the corresponding registered information, as it appears in the cabinet that is indicated precisely by the lit element.

In order to erase previously registered information, key 16 is slid along the corresponding cabinet which in the above case would be that cabinet corresponding with formerly lit element 13.

The sliding takes place starting from the rightmost position to the left-most position.

Once the key is at its left-most position, the lower end projection 24 of key 16 again presses switch 22 by means of spring pusher 29 turning off corresponding light 13, simultaneously erasing the information that had previously been registered. After such erasure operation key 16 is turned back to its right-most original position ready for starting a new cycle.

Switch 22 is actuated in two different ways; one of them is referred to as the registering operation of some information upon the memorandum and it is effected when the keys are at their right-most end position of the cabinets and the user transmits some information by using the marking element which he presses against the assembly of sheets. Upon pressing the assembly of sheets, the whole assembly moves slightly downwards, thus actuating switch 22 by means of the spring pusher 29 fixed at the lower surface of the supporting sheet 25 of said assembly, turning on corresponding light 13.

Switch 22, is actuated again in the erasing operation" by means of the lower end projection 24 of key 16, when key 16 is slid along the corresponding cabinet from its right end most position to its left end most position. This lower end projection 24 of key 16 presses switch 22 again by means of spring pusher 29, turning off corresponding light 13.

In both cases mentioned above, switch 22 is actuated by means of spring pusher 29, but the difference between them is that in the first instance the pusher spring 29 is actuated by pressing the whole assembly of sheets with the marking element, whereas, in the second instance, pusher spring 29 is actuated by the lower end projection 24 of key 16, but without moving the assembly of sheets.

The erasure position of the key is illustrated in FIG. 7 of the drawings.

FIGS. 8 and 8a show an embodiment of the invention, wherein the erasing of the registered information is performed by downwardly pressing an actuating key 40, thus effecting the required separation of opaque plastic sheet 27 from said waxed cardboard sheet 26. Key 40 activates upon said pressing movement a lighting circuit which lights a corresponding indicating lamp 123.

In this embodiment of the invention, the opaque plastic sheet 27 and translucent sheet 28 are fixed to the upper frontal pannel 12 of the supporting chassis 11, by means of a grid 41, forming a plurality of confined spaces or cabinets 14, over which an entry can be registered, said confined spaces being formed by the horizontal bars 47 of the grid 41. As it will be observed this embodiment does not include the profile frames 15 shaped in V-from.

The waxed cardboard sheet 26, and the supporting sheet 25 are cut in strips corresponding to each confined space 14 and they are fixed on the upper face of a horizontal linkage bar 42, that has a cross section shaped in an inverted U form.

Said sheets 25 and 26 slightly protrude from rectangular holes of the upper frontal pannel 12 that correspond to said confined spaces 14, and the cardboard sheet 26 abutting against the opaque plastic sheet 27, which are fixed to the upper frontal pannel 12 by means of the grid 41.

Each of said linkage bars 42, are pivotally coupled by means of links 44 to horizontal rods 43 which are fixed at their ends to the side walls of the supporting chassis.

Each linkage bar 42 is urged against the lower face of the upper frontal pannel 12 by means of corresponding helical springs 45, located around a button 46 of a corresponding push-on-push-off switch 22 fixed to the supporting chassis ll. Said linkage bars 42 protrude beyond one of the side walls of the supporting chassis l1 and include, in the upper face of the protruding portion, the actuating key 40.

In this embodiment of the invention, after effecting some registration, the user should press the key 40 downwardly actuating the corresponding push-onpush-off switch 22, turning on the corresponding light 13, while at the same time the waxed cardboard sheet 26 which is fixed to the linkage bar 42, moves downwardly effecting the necessary separation of this sheet, from the opaque plastic sheet 27 which is fixed to the upper frontal pannel 12 of the supporting chassis 11, in order to erase any registered information, clearing the corresponding cabinet. At this point, with the corresponding light 13 lit, the user transmits some information to the cabinet, by using the marking element.

In order to erase previously registered information key 40 is pressed downwardly, pushing button 46 of the switch, turning off corresponding light 13 and simultaneously separating the waxed cardboard sheet 26 from the opaque plastic sheet 27, erasing the registered information. FIG. 9 shows the simplified electrical wiring diagram of an embodiment of this invention. Upon plugging the plug K into a socket and closing the starting contact C1 and C2, light L1 turns on automatically, indicating that current is being supplied through plug K, which circulates through the over current protection fuse F1, and through the contact C1. The relay R becomes energized, opening its normally closed contacts RNC, which functions to avoid feeding the circuit by the battery when the feeding is through the plug K, and closes its normally opened contacts RNA, allowing the current to pass through the transformer T, voltage reducer, and across the rectifier M. After passing through said contact RNA, which now is closed, the current lights any of the lamps L2 (indicators of pending matters), which have their respective contacts C3 closed where C3 and L2 correspond to switches 22 and indicating lamps 13, respectively; after the current has circulated through lamps L2 and contacts C3 it returns to ground G.

When some external power failure happens, the indicating light automatically is turned off, and relay R is reenergized opening its contact RNA and closing its contacts RNC allowing the feeding from the battery B and avoiding any interruption of the memorandum performance.

What is claimed is:

11. An electrical memorandum, comprising:

recording means for recording data thereon, said recording means comprising a sheet on which an image is produced on the portion of said sheet to which pressure is applied;

erasing means engaging said recording means for erasing said image from said sheet;

indicating means engaging said recording means for indicating the recording of data on said recording means, said indicating means comprising luminous means actuated by the pressure of recording data on said recording means; and

electrical supply means for supplying electrical power to said indicating means.

2. An electrical memorandum according to claim 1, wherein said recording means comprises first and second sheets disposed one atop the other such that an image appears on said recording means which corresponds to an image traced on said first sheet, the pressure applied to said first sheet to trace an image thereon pressing a portion of said first sheet against the corresponding portion of said second sheet, wherein the image traced on said first sheet appears on said recording means.

3. An electrical memorandum according to claim 2, wherein said erasing means comprises means for separating said first sheet from engagement with said second sheet, thereby erasing the image recorded on said recording means.

4. An electrical memorandum according to claim 3, wherein said separating means comprises a slideable member having a portion disposed between said first and second sheets, and guide means for guiding said slideable member from a first position adjacent one end portion of said sheets of a second position adjacent an opposite end portion of said sheets to separate said sheets, thereby erasing the recorded image.

5. An electrical memorandum according to claim 4,

wherein:

said recording means further comprises a supporting member on which said sheets are disposed and a contacting member mounted on said supporting 5 member, said contacting member having a portion which contacts said slideable member when said slideable member is in said second position; and said indicating means further comprises a switch connected between said luminous means and said electrical supply means, said switch having an actuating member engaging said contacting member for actuating said switch by movement of said contacting member. 6. An electrical memorandum according to claim 3, wherein said separating means comprises:

a first supporting member on which said first sheet is disposed; a second supporting member on which said second sheet is disposed; biasing means normally urging said first member toward said second member so that said first and second sheets engage each other; and moving means for moving said first supporting member away from said second supporting member to disengage said first sheet from said second sheet. 7. An electrical memorandum according to claim 6, further comprising at least one member having one end portion pivotally connected to a chassis of said memorandum and the opposite end portion pivotally connected to said first supporting member, wherein said moving means moves said first supporting member radially about the connection of said at least one member and said chassis.

3. An electrical memorandum according to claim 6,

wherein said indicating means further comprises a switch connected between said luminous means and said electrical supply means, said switch having an actuating member engaging said first supporting member such that said switch is actuated by movement of said first supporting member.

9. An electrical memorandum according to claim 1, wherein said electrical supply means comprises an external supply, an internal supply, and selecting means for automatically selecting between said internal and external supplies to maintain a supply of power to said indicating means. 

1. An electrical memorandum, comprising: recording means for recording data thereon, said recording means comprising a sheet on which an image is produced on the portion of said sheet to which pressure is applied; erasing means engaging said recording means for erasing said image from said sheet; indicating means engaging said recording means for indicating the recording of data on said recording means, said indicating means comprising luminous means actuated by the pressure of recording data on said recording means; and electrical supply means for supplying electrical power to said indicating means.
 2. An electrical memorandum according to claim 1, wherein said recording means comprises first and second sheets disposed one atop the other such that an image appears on said recording means which corresponds to an image traced on said first sheet, the pressure applied to said first sheet to trace an image thereon pressing a portion of said first sheet against the corresponding portion of said second sheet, wherein the image traced on said first sheet appears on said recording means.
 3. An electrical memorandum according to claim 2, wherein said erasing means comprises means for separating said first sheet from engagement with said second sheet, thereby erasing the image recorded on said recording means.
 4. An electrical memorandum according to claim 3, wherein said separatinG means comprises a slideable member having a portion disposed between said first and second sheets, and guide means for guiding said slideable member from a first position adjacent one end portion of said sheets of a second position adjacent an opposite end portion of said sheets to separate said sheets, thereby erasing the recorded image.
 5. An electrical memorandum according to claim 4, wherein: said recording means further comprises a supporting member on which said sheets are disposed and a contacting member mounted on said supporting member, said contacting member having a portion which contacts said slideable member when said slideable member is in said second position; and said indicating means further comprises a switch connected between said luminous means and said electrical supply means, said switch having an actuating member engaging said contacting member for actuating said switch by movement of said contacting member.
 6. An electrical memorandum according to claim 3, wherein said separating means comprises: a first supporting member on which said first sheet is disposed; a second supporting member on which said second sheet is disposed; biasing means normally urging said first member toward said second member so that said first and second sheets engage each other; and moving means for moving said first supporting member away from said second supporting member to disengage said first sheet from said second sheet.
 7. An electrical memorandum according to claim 6, further comprising at least one member having one end portion pivotally connected to a chassis of said memorandum and the opposite end portion pivotally connected to said first supporting member, wherein said moving means moves said first supporting member radially about the connection of said at least one member and said chassis.
 8. An electrical memorandum according to claim 6, wherein said indicating means further comprises a switch connected between said luminous means and said electrical supply means, said switch having an actuating member engaging said first supporting member such that said switch is actuated by movement of said first supporting member.
 9. An electrical memorandum according to claim 1, wherein said electrical supply means comprises an external supply, an internal supply, and selecting means for automatically selecting between said internal and external supplies to maintain a supply of power to said indicating means. 